Putting off on important appointments, like your hearing aid fitting, is all too easy amongst the hustle and bustle of day-to-day events. You might not even get around to shopping for hearing aids whatsoever. But hearing loss impacts more than only your ears and delaying treatment can have detrimental effects on your entire life.
The connection to cognitive decline
Scientists have demonstrated a clear link between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline. This underscores the crucial importance of not delaying treatment, as it can have negative effects on your mental function also.
Hearing loss will get worse if it’s neglected
Naturally, it’s evident that delaying treatment for hearing loss isn’t conducive to preserving your auditory health. You unintentionally cause more damage to your hearing if you delay getting a hearing examination or hearing aids if you need them.
You may find yourself continually increasing the volume on your various devices, worsening the damage to your ears and speeding up the development of hearing loss. Hearing aids can boost specific frequencies of sound thereby delaying the development of hearing loss.
The link to cognitive function
Your brain and your hearing are intricately connected. Research shows that untreated hearing loss can have significant repercussions on cognitive function. Social isolation, often a consequence of diminished hearing, can result in mental health problems including depression and anxiety, which in turn can worsen mental decline over time.
Also, the recovery of normal hearing function can be complicated because untreated hearing loss will force the brain to adapt by reallocating mental resources from other functions, such as visual processes, over to auditory processes.
Navigating neuroplasticity
The brain’s phenomenal ability to adapt, known as neuroplasticity, is both a friend and a foe in this scenario. While it allows for flexibility and recovery, extended neglected hearing loss can lead to considerable rewiring of the brain, making it difficult to return to previous functionality.
But it is possible to reverse this effect. Despite previous delays in seeking treatment, using hearing aids as prescribed by a specialist can still deliver significant benefits in both the short and long term.
Give us a call for an appointment
While prompt treatment is ideal, it’s never too late to deal with hearing loss. If you’re ready to enjoy better hearing and stronger cognitive function, call us today for an assessment!